Lunchbox Ideas with Excalibur Dehydrators

It’s almost back to school time and if you are looking for healthy and enjoyable snack ideas for your children’s lunchboxes, then dehydrating foods can be a great addition.

Dehydrated vegetables and fruit aren't just for people camping and hiking. If you take a walk through the snacks section at your local grocery store, you will see that veggie chips, fruit leathers and bliss balls are on shelves and are favourites for many children and teens.

Dehydrating your own food can be an affordable, easy and delicious way to preserve seasonal produce for long-term storage and stash snacks for not just the lunchbox but for a rainy day! Plus you can dehydrate your own snacks without the added high sodium content, sugars and preservatives.

Here are some recipes to try using your Excalibur Dehydrator to add to your child’s lunchbox this school term:

Dried Fruit Balls

Ingredients

• 1 cup dried Dates
• 1/2 cup dried Figs
• 1/2 cup dried Apricot
• 1/2 cup dried Cranberries
• 1/2 cup Pecans
• 1/2 cup Walnuts
• 1/2 tsp Ground Cinnamon
• 1 cup flaked Coconut

Directions

1. In a food processor, finely chop dates, figs, apricots, and cranberries. Move fruit to mixing bowl.
2. Chop nuts and seeds by pulsing in a food processor a few times.
3. In a medium bowl, mix chopped fruit with nuts and seeds. Use hands to incorporate.
4. Shape mixture into 1" balls.
5. Place coconut in a shallow dish and roll the fruit balls in coconut to coat them.
6. Dry fruit balls in your Excalibur® dehydrator at 135 degrees F for 4 to 6 hours, or until crisp on the outside.
7. Store the fruit balls in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

Tropical Fruit Leather

Ingredients

• 1 ½ cups chopped mango
• 1 cup Raspberries

Directions

1. In a food processor, puree mango and raspberries.
2. Spread out to ¼ inch thickness, as evenly as possible, on a leather sheet or a drying tray lined with parchment paper, leaving it slightly thicker around the edges. Dry at 130°F.
3. Leather should be evenly translucent, with no visible moist spots, and should still be flexible.

* Use very ripe mangoes for best flavour and texture

Dried Apricots

Ingredients

• Apricots
• 1 cup Lemon Juice
• 4 cups Water

Directions

1. Wash apricots, cut in half, and remove the pits.
2. In a large bowl add water and lemon juice. Add apricots.
3. Remove apricots and pat dry.
4. Push in backs of apricots and place on your Excalibur Dehydrator drying trays with the skin side down.
5. Dehydrate the apricots at 135ºF until pliable approximately 20-24 hours. 

Banana Chia Crackers

Ingredients

• 4 tbsp Chia Seeds
• 1 very ripe Banana
• 1/2 tsp Cinnamon
• 1 cup Water
• 1/4 tsp Salt

Directions

1. Combine ingredients in a blender and process until smooth
2. Allow to site for 20 minutes until mixture begins to gel
3. Spread mixture 1/8" thick on a Paraflexx lined Excalibur dehydrator tray
4. Dehydrate at 145 degrees F for about 6 hours, or until fruit-leather-like consistency is achieved
5. Carefully peel from Paraflexx and slice into cracker sized pieces
6. Return to dehydrator for an additional 6 hours, or until crispy. Enjoy!

Banana Chips

Ingredients

• 1 bunch ripe Bananas

Directions

1. Cut bananas into 1/4 inch slices
2. Line your Excalibur Dehydrator with paraflexx
3. Lay banana slices in a single layer
4. Dehydrate at 135 degrees F for 6-10 hours or until leathery
5. In a food processor, finely chop dates, figs, apricots, and cranberries. Move fruit to mixing bowl.
6. Chop nuts and seeds by pulsing in a food processor a few times.
7. In a medium bowl, mix chopped fruit with nuts and seeds. Use hands to incorporate.
8. Shape mixture into 1" balls.
9. Place coconut in a shallow dish and roll the fruit balls in coconut to coat them.
10. Dry fruit balls in your Excalibur® dehydrator at 135 degrees F for 4 to 6 hours, or until crisp on the outside.
11. Store the fruit balls in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

Here are some of the Excalibur Dehydrators that we think you will Love

1. Excalibur 4926T – 9 Tray Food Dehydrator with Timer in Black

• Perfect for dehydrating fruits, veggies, meats, yoghurt and more
• On board 26 hour timer so you can set and forget
• Thermostatic control from 41ºC to 74ºC (105ºF – 165ºF) for safe drying
• BPA Free
• Large tray space for heaps of food
• Removable trays
• Horizontal-airflow drying system for guaranteed results
• Made in the USA

2.Excalibur 9-Tray Digital Dehydrator 4948CDB in Black with Clear Door & Preserve it Naturally Book

• Perfect for those with large batches and happy to use the latest digital technology
• Parallex system and Hyperwave Fluctuation technology guarantees an even, faster and better quality dried foods.
• Shelf-life, nutritive and taste quality of the foods are not compromised.
• Safe, easy to use and clean
• Economic and environment-friendly
• Made in USA

3. Excalibur 5-Tray Digital Dehydrator 4548CDB – With Recipe Guide Book

• Designed with smaller families, gardeners and DIY people in mind.
• The Hyperwave Fluctuation and Parallexx technology together guarantee an evenly and perfectly dried ingredient.
• Large Drying space for a larger volume of dried produce
• Free Preserve it Naturally Book worth $39
• Ensures a nutritious, delicious, and safe food for the whole family to enjoy
• Safe, easy to use and clean, economical and environment-friendly
• Made in the USA

Which Model is Best for Me?

When it comes to Food Dehydrators, due to the quality build and feedback we have had from owners who have had Excalibur models for over 30 years, Love Your Health Australia only recommends Excalibur Dehydrators, the only choice you need to make is which one is best for you.

Whilst all the models will do a fabulous job of dehydrating your produce whether that be fruits, veggies or meat for jerky

Our best selling machines include: